In this March 30, 2013, file photo, Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Nobuhiro Ishida, of Japan, in their WBA middleweight title fight in Monaco. Golovkin’s fight against Curtis Stevens in November was a big one for HBO Sports, pulling in a peak audience of 1,566,000. (Lionel Cironneau/The Associated Press file)

Ken Hershman was understandably in a good mood Tuesday. The president of HBO Sports who previously held a similar position for rival Showtime was basking in the glory of a terrific 2013. It was a year in which his company had the five top non pay-per-view boxing events on cable television in terms of audience participation.

It was just one of many things that has made Hershman a happy man. During a telephone interview from the HBO offices in New York City, Hershman spoke in joyous tones about the year HBO had and what’s ahead.

Keep in mind that HBO lost several star-power fighters to Showtime this year, including the likes of pay-per-view king Floyd Mayweather Jr., Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Broner, who had just the one fight for HBO against Rees before moving over to Showtime.

The key element: All three fight under the Golden Boy Promotions banner. Broner and Alvarez are under contract to Golden Boy, and Golden Boy helps Mayweather promote his fights.

“The ratings stars that left the network had to be replaced and I think we did that and then some, and over-delivered in that area,” Hershman said. “So if I’m most proud of anything, it’s really that. Just identifying these new guys with tremendous fan-friendly fighting styles, great personalities, putting them on and seeing the audience respond so favorably.”

All five of those fighters are vicious and outstanding. Hershman didn’t even know for certain what to say when asked which among them is the biggest rising star.

“Tough question to answer,” he said. “It’s a good dilemma to have. I think, obviously, Golovkin has tremendous potential. His ratings growth has been the largest of all the newcomers. His personality outside the ring, his persona inside the ring, gives me tremendous optimism for his future.”

Hershman couldn’t say enough about Garcia, who is 33-0 with 28 knockouts.

“It’s hard not to talk about Mikey Garcia, who just as a boxer, a technician, is so incredibly skilled and gifted,” he said of the undefeated and ultra-talented super featherweight champion from Oxnard. “I just don’t see anyone being able to compete with him, and there are so many attractive options as he moves up in weight that will test that theory. So I’m really stoked about Mikey and what we can look forward to in 2014 with him.

“And Kovalev and Stevenson are right in that mix as well. We love those guys. Ruslan Provodnikov as well. It’s so hard to pick one.”

No doubt, there is plenty about 2013 for which to be happy if you’re Hershman. Heck, the boxing community as a whole — not just HBO viewers — benefited from a terrific 2013. But with all that good comes some negative stuff.

Hershman admitted that he is truly concerned about so many poor scorecards these days, and we saw many of them in 2013.

“I think even one wrong scorecard is too many because it does impact people’s careers, impacts the credibility and foundation of the sport,” said Hershman, who said the industry needs to perhaps re-educate judges and make sure only the best work.

There is also the rivalry between HBO and Showtime, which is now run by Stephen Espinoza, former Golden Boy attorney. Showtime does all of Golden Boy’s big cards, and after so many Golden Boy fighters left HBO for Showtime, Hershman dropped a bomb when he announced HBO would discontinue doing Golden Boy fights for the time being.

Officially, Hershman said he wants to do business with a company that is on the same page with HBO. In other words, HBO developing fighters on its big stage only to have them bolt to Showtime is not the same page.

Now we have this situation where if one big-name fighter operates for HBO and another of the same ilk and weight for Showtime, chances of them fighting are slim.

“I think in boxing, all these impediments and challenges to making fights, whether it’s based on promoters, managers and networks, alliances, agreements, where people want to take their careers, that’s just been a part of the sport,” Hershman said. “You have to live with it. And we do.

“And I’d rather focus on all the great fights that we can make, because I think if you’re a boxing fan and you look back at 2013, it was a spectacular year and fights were made that the fans clamored for.”

As frustrating as it is to hear about fights not being made, Hershman has a bit of a point. Boxing has always been difficult from a business standpoint. It probably always will be. That doesn’t mean we have to like it.

Broner classless

It’s one thing to be a big mouth like Adrien Broner, who talks about as much trash as anyone in boxing today. Until this past Saturday, when he lost his welterweight title to Marcos Maidana, he had backed up that mouth.

But there was absolutely no reason for one thing Broner did during the fight, and then he left before he could do the obligatory post-fight interview in the ring, a sign he lacks sportsmanship.

Now, since this is boxing, we understand that the rules aren’t always going to be followed. But to turn around an opponent in a corner and then do several sexually suggestive moves, just comes off as really disgusting and crossing the line. Broner did that to Maidana near the end of the first round.

Of course, to make sure he wasn’t shown up, Maidana foolishly returned the favor later in the 11th.

That said, Broner ate a big piece of humble pie, taking a convincing loss as his first career setback. Yours truly, as well as many other reporters, figured Broner was just too good for Maidana.

But Maidana, with an outstanding trainer in Robert Garcia, took charge from the get-go, eventually decking Broner twice. They were the first two times he’s tasted the canvas in his career.

Now Broner wants a rematch. We have no problem with that. But a fight people are already aching for is Maidana against interim welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman. Like Maidana, Thurman is a hard puncher and the two of them could cause some serious pain.

Etc…

With Vitali Klitschko stepping down as WBC heavyweight champion this week, the title will be vacated, paving the way for the Nos. 1 and 2 contenders to fight for it. That would be Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola, respectively. The WBC on Thursday ordered negotiations to begin for that fight. Stiverne defeated Arreola via unanimous decision in April at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. … Abner Mares (26-1-1, 14 KOs) of Hawaiian Gardens will get a rematch with Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8, 47 KOs) of Mexico on Feb. 15 at Staples Center (on Showtime). They will fight for Gonzalez’s featherweight title, the one he took from Mares via shocking first-round knockout in August at StubHub Center. … There will be no U.S. television on this, but it’s noteworthy to point out that former great Roy Jones Jr. will take on cruiserweight Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf (17-3-1, 8 KOs) of France tonight at Dynamo Palace of Sports in Moscow, Russia. Jones, 44, is 56-8 with 40 knockouts.

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